There is a professional, practical edge at London South Bank University (LSBU). From its technology and baking science degrees, delivered by the National Bakery School (the world’s oldest baking institution, founded in 1894) to its wide-ranging options within nursing and social care, the university stands by its civic mission to provide “industrial skill, general knowledge, health and wellbeing” to the people and businesses of south London. 

Its mission is reflected in its top 20 (joint 15th) ranking in our social inclusion index. LSBU continues to recruit a quarter of each year’s intake of new students from the local area.

What is London South Bank University’s reputation?

Founded in 1892 as the Borough Polytechnic Institute and a university since 1992, LSBU is at the heart of the LSBU Group — a network that includes a further education college, a technical college, an academy school and a sixth form, all located south of the River Thames.  

In keeping with its vocational slant, LSBU has one of the largest cohorts of degree apprentices in the country — with more than 2,100 enrolled across 21 standards. Options include architect, civil design engineer, registered nurse, and social worker.

LSBU maintained a silver rating overall in the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023, underpinned by a silver for student outcomes but only bronze for the student experience. The assessors highlighted LSBU’s “very high continuation and completion rates, with outstanding outcomes for some student groups and subject areas”. However, our data shows that across all areas the LSBU students’ projected continuation rate of 88.2 per cent is relatively poor, placing the university 110= for this metric.

Rates of student satisfaction have improved, according to our analysis of the National Student Survey, with LSBU ranking 70th for students’ evaluation of teaching quality (up 27 places) and 89th for satisfaction with the wider experience (a 19-place gain).

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 rated 68 per cent of research submitted by LSBU as world-leading or internationally excellent (up 14 percentage points compared with the previous REF, in 2014), and LSBU ranks 92nd in our research quality index.

Less positively, LSBU has been struggling financially, having written off £16.3 million in “bad debt” due to what it described as “weaker repayments” on debts, including tuition fees owed by international students. The university reported a deficit of £16.4 million in 2022-23 and predicted a £24 million deficit, driven by a fall in international recruitment, static domestic enrolments and rising pension costs. It is one of more than 50 UK universities to have announced plans to make redundancies. LSBU said that the academic job cuts were driven by a “changing student profile”.

What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available? 

There are a number of courses closing in 2024 and 2025 among them: psychological counselling; chemical and energy engineering; criminology; sociology; photography and imaging; music and sound design; advanced vehicle engineering (with foundation year); product design (with and without foundation year); engineering product design (with and without foundation year); and product design and development engineer (degree apprenticeship).

New degree launches are: photography; music production and sound design; and computer science (with foundation year). 

What are London South Bank University’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in? 

Undergraduate degrees need 112 Ucas tariff points. Some of LSBU’s most competitive courses ask for 128. The TEF 2023 found that more than half of full-time students enter with Btecs, access or foundation courses, or “none, unknown or other entry qualifications”, rather than with A-levels. 

Instead of a contextual offer policy the university takes a “non-standard application approach” — looking at predicted sixth form grades as well as taking GCSE or equivalent qualifications into consideration, plus skills, knowledge or experience gained outside education. The university will also bear any extenuating circumstances in mind. About a third of students came through clearing.

What are the graduate prospects?

The majority of courses are accredited by professional bodies or developed in partnership with employers. LSBU has made the most of its London location by cultivating links with more than 1,500 organisations, including the National Theatre, London Underground, Bafta, the NHS, Unilever and Lidl. But since 2018-19 — when LSBU was in the top five and twice named our University of the Year for Graduate Employment — rates of graduate employment plummeted to 107th in our last edition. However, our analysis of the latest Graduate Outcomes survey, tracking the proportion in highly skilled work or further study after 15 months, shows a significant rise this year of 42 places to 65=.

What is London South Bank University’s campus like?

More than £65 million has been invested in the main campus in Southwark, not far from the South Bank arts complex. The flagship Hub reopened in 2022 after a two-year renovation to build a new library, computer rooms and canteen. 

LSBU has opened a business and healthcare campus in the centre of Croydon, with a chiropractic clinic for London’s only undergraduate master’s degree in the subject. Health students are based in hospitals in Romford, Leytonstone and Havering in east London. The Institute of Health and Social Care underpins LSBU’s mission to become the university of choice for the NHS and the healthcare workforce in the capital. The LSBU Health Skills Centre opened in 2021 in partnership with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust to encourage more local people into health and social care jobs.

Everything you need to know about London South Bank University’s student life and wellbeing support

Access is free to sports facilities such as the newly improved gym on the Southwark site, where four fitness studios deliver more than 30 classes per week. Students at the Croydon and Havering campuses can join virtual classes. Secure cycle storage encourages students to get on their bikes.

Support for mental health begins with a 30-minute “check in and chat” appointment or a one-hour “mental health initial” — both one-to-ones with an adviser from LSBU’s dedicated wellbeing team, who will point the way to the right internal and external services. Students may be referred for counselling, which LSBU pays for up to six sessions of.

What do the students say?

“LSBU’s new Hub building has become an amazing centre for student experience, along with the Student Life Centre, the home of the students’ union. LSBU’s location champions diversity, which creates a balance of London perspectives. Here you can easily engage with the best of what London has to offer.”
Devonte James, students’ union president and a business management graduate

What about student accommodation at London South Bank University?

In 2023-24 half of first-years lived in LSBU’s halls, where allocation is based on distance from home but only guaranteed for international students. 

How diverse and inclusive is London South Bank University?

With 68.5 per cent of the intake from ethnic minority backgrounds (ninth) and nearly all from non-selective state schools (97.1 per cent, 12=), LSBU is 34th in our social inclusion index overall. To encourage admissions from areas with low progression to university, LSBU provides targeted support to schools with a high percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals.

Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at London South Bank University

There are bursaries of up to £1,500 per year for care leavers, students estranged from their families, and young carer students. The Lawrence Burrows Education Trust funds ten bursaries of £3,000 for students with a West Indian or Asian background.